Madurai

Athens of the East

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Madurai sits on the banks of the River Vaigai and serves as a center of Tamil culture. The colorful design of the Hindu temples has become emblematic of the city as a whole, with its wealth of religious sites high on the list of things to visit while sightseeing in Madurai. The capital of the Pandyam Kingdom for centuries, a number of museums around the city help introduce the stately importance of the city throughout the years, and put its current status as a key place of Hindu pilgrimage in context. Madurai is in Madurai District. When using our India trip planner , you're building your holiday based on your own interests, visitor reviews, and the informed opinions of our well-traveled writers.